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edited by Karen D. Singh -- Interior Design, 4/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Couture Allure
Textiles worthy of a turn on the runway are the trademark of studio Fabricteria Maki. Former Tokyo fashion student Maki Yamamoto's fabrics for windows and walls combine made-to-measure tailoring and voluptuous femininity, and her deft handling of color, transparency, and volume result in swaths that seem to bustle and billow even when still.

Standouts from the Fabric Jewels collection include the ruffled Sango; Niwa, with a circular motif; the pleated Gensen; Imouto, adorned with a rose; and Nakae, animated by golden leaves. None are available off-the-rack, however. Like a custom dress shop, the four-year-old label produces pieces on a strictly per-order basis, tweaked to fit the room that wears them. 718-497-1277; fabricteriamaki.com. circle 318

Out of Africa
Natural disaster is the unlikely source of the Leakey collection of decorative trimmings. Four years ago, a drought in Kenya's Great Rift Valley devastated the Maasai tribe's crops and pastures, forcing the men to relocate hundreds of miles away in search of grazable land. The women, left behind, struggled to find a new way to support their families.

Thus was born an economic partnership with designer Philip Leakey, son of the world-renowned paleoanthropologists. He and his wife, Katy, teamed up with the Maasai women to produce striking yet delicate trimmings and beads for the high-end market. Offered exclusively through Samuel & Sons, the Leakey collection utilizes indigenous dried grass, coconut, wood, and bone, no materials taken from the living environment.

Trimmings come in a color spectrum ranging from subtle to vivid, and their soft luster is indicative of careful hand-polishing. The beads' belly-shape forms evoke the breadth and beauty of the African plains—and the enduring strength of the Maasai women. 983 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; 212-704-8000. circle 319

Joel Berman Glass Studios International
This innovative studio ups the ante with two pressure-formed glass patterns. Etra, inspired by fissure lines found in granite, and Ima, a textured linear design, both have a 27-inch repeat. 1.1244 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3R8, Canada; 888-505-4527; bermanglass.com. circle 320

Heller
Just try to keep your heart from skipping a beat while reclining on this molded-polymer vixen of a seat. The manufacturer teamed up with Studio 65 for a lip-smacking reinterpretation of the 1970's Bocca sofa—itself a take on the iconic seating series by Salvador Dalí. 149 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010; 212-685-4200; helleronline.com. circle 321

Designframe
A quotidian desk accessory gets its moment in the spotlight, courtesy of the clever Paperclip lamp. With a silver-topped bulb supported by a continuous curve of stainless steel, this cheeky fixture is anything but everyday. 116 East 16th Street, New York, NY 10003; 212-979-0300; designframe.com. circle 322

Parri
Perched on a slim base of chrome-finished steel, the Hoop chair's polypropylene shell comes in several colors of lacquer. Cushions can be upholstered in leather or various fabrics. Property, 14 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10013; 917-237-0123; propertyfurniture.com. circle 323

Ligne Roset
Styles of the 1920's and 1960's inspired Eric Jourdan's sophisticated Snowdonia collection, complete with armchair, sofa, love seat, and ottoman. The base is brushed stainless steel; upholstery options include cotton, wool, and leather. 56 East Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60611; 800-297-6738; ligne-roset-usa.com. circle 324

Flavor Paper
Vintage needn't be antiquated. This company's debut wall-covering collection features old-school looks based on 1970's archival patterns. 4213 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70117; 504-944-0447; flavorpaper.com. circle 325

Magis
Werner Aisslinger's Nic chair features an air-molded polypropylene seat on a chrome-finished sled base. 15 Via Magnadola, 31045 Motta di Livenzia, Italy; 39-042-2862600; magisdesign.com. circle 329 Leif Petersen, 975 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, CA 94939; 415-925-2701; leifpetersenfurniture.net. circle 329

Innovations in Wallcoverings
The king of downtown contract style brings us Normandy Velvet, a cotton-rayon blend suitable for drapery and uphol- stery. Available in 25 upbeat colors. 150 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-807-6300; innovationsusa.com. circle 326

Chilewich
Ring in the spring with Plynyl's new woven vinyls: Boxes and Twigs. Offered in five muted colors. 7 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016; 212-679-9204; chilewich.com. circle 328

Marla Henderson Design Group
The Babik rug collection is hand-sewn from vintage wool once used by migrant tribes in Turkey's eastern Anatolia region. Natural ingredients employed in hand-dying make each rug unique. 702 San Antonio Street, Suite 402, Austin, TX 78701; 512-495-1885. circle 327

Louis Who?

Known for unfussy, decidedly contemporary furnishings, Todd Hase switches gears with his Louis XXIst collection. The line of seating, tables, and case goods gets a kick out of French traditions—while still hewing to Hase's comfort-first approach.

Blending bona fide Directoire with Hollywood Regency, his breezy spin on centuries past owes its modern spirit to streamlined, slightly abstracted forms and a sophisticated, eye-catching palette. Witness the lacquered frames that gently outline this side-dining chair, shown in three of six available high-gloss finishes: Olive, Orangerie, and Dijon. By injecting antique with a dose of levity, Louis XXIst speaks softly—in a French accent—to the glamour-puss within. 261 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-871-9075; toddhase.com. circle 317